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I think we are going to have to add some depth at RB. I am still not convinced Rainey will be a true "RB". Didn't we have a back named "Spann" or something to that effect last year that was showing promise?

John Clay waived/injury, Steelers sign RB Jason Ford

John Clay is now in the same situation that David Johnson is. He's been placed on the wavied/injured list due to a quad issue that is likely to be confirmed as torn. If he clears waivers, the team can bring him back and place him on IR if they choose.

In the mean time another fresh body has signed with the team to help with depth in the backfield.

To replace Clay, the Steelers have signed Jason Ford - 5' 10", 251 lbs out of Illinois.

AT ILLINOIS

2011 - Senior: Played in 12 games, making eight starts at tailback ... Second on the team with 600 rushing yards and had a team-high seven rushing TDs on the season ... Finished career with 1,962 rushing yards (16th-most in UI history) and 26 rushing TDs (2nd-most in UI history) ... Recorded 11 carries for 43 yards against Minnesota ... Had eight carries for 39 yards and three catches for seven yards against Wisconsin ... Scored his 26th career rushing touchdown with a one-yard run against Michigan ... Had his fourth career 100-yard game with 100 yards on 24 carries at Penn State ... Had 10 carries for 83 yards and one touchdown along with a career-high five catches for 69 yards against Purdue ... Had 16 carries for 55 yards, including one TD in win over Indiana ... Totaled 58 rushing yards, including one TD, in win over Arizona State ... Recorded 11 carries for 48 yards and one TD against South Dakota State ... Had 86 rushing yards and 2 TDs on a career-high 22 carries in season-opening win over Arkansas State.

2010 - Junior: Played in 12 games and made four starts ... Rushed for 480 yards on 99 carries (4.8 ypc) with seven touchdowns ... Also caught seven passes for 52 yards and threw a four-yard touchdown pass during 2010 ... Had 12 carries for 54 yards and three receptions for 29 yards in Texas Bowl win over Baylor ... Had six carries for 50 yards, including a season-long 29-yard run, at Fresno State ... Totaled a season-high 17 carries for 86 yards and tied his career high with three rushing TDs in win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field ... Had 10 carries for a season-high 91 yards and one TD at Michigan ... Did not play against Purdue due to injury ... Became the 37th Illini to surpass 1,000 career yards rushing with 47 yards on nine carries in win at Penn State ... Also completed his first career pass vs. PSU, a four-yard TD toss, the first Illini non-quarterback TD pass since 2006.

They should get rid of this dude and sign Jeff Demps. Could you imagine having both Rainey and Demps? ****, sign Demps then cut Baron Batch.

After finishing his college career as a Florida running back in January, Jeff Demps said that he wasn’t interested in being selected in the NFL draft, because he wanted to put all of his focus on trying to qualify for the Olympics. That decision worked well for Demps, who made it to London and won a silver medal as part of the American 4×100-meter relay team.

With that goal behind him, Demps now wants to make it in the NFL.

Ian Rapoport ‏of NFL Network reports that Demps is ready to play football and hoping to sign with some team now, with an eye to playing in the NFL this season. He’s a free agent who can sign with anyone.

It’s not surprising that Demps wants to play in the NFL: I wrote at the time that Demps declared he was focusing on track that it was possible he’d switch his focus to football after the Olympics, because for all but a tiny number of sprinters, there’s more money in football than there is in track.

And Demps ran for 2,470 yards and 23 touchdowns and averaged 28.8 yards per kickoff return at Florida, so he has a résumé that should impress NFL teams. It would be surprising if he’s not in some team’s training camp soon.